Install or Upgrade of VMware Tools fails due to missing installation package 'vc_runtime Minimum_x86.msi'

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Upgrading or installing VMware tools stops with the following window: 
   The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable.
 Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package 'vc_runtime Minimum_x86.msi' in the box below.
 Use Source: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{<version_guid>v1#.##.#####\packages\vcRuntimeMinimum_x86\.

 
In the above example, the missing installation package is "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{0C3457A0-3DCE-4A33-BEF0-9B528C557771}v14.40.33810\packages\vcRuntimeMinimum_x86\".

• Attempting to uninstall VMware tools or Microsoft Visual C++ fails with the same issue.
  
  
• Guest OS (Microsoft) application event logs shows the following log entry:
   Product: Microsoft Visual C++ <YYYY> X86 Minimum Runtime - 1#.##.#####-- Error 1714. The older version of Microsoft Visual C++ <YYYY> X86 Minimum Runtime - 1#.##.##### cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group. System Error 1612.

Environment

• ESXi 8.x
• ESX 9.x

Cause

Missing installation packages for Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable in "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\" prevent updates to VMware tools, as it's a required component.

Resolution

The issue is caused due to missing files for Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable. The following solution can be applied as a workaround. If the issue still persists, contact Microsoft for assistance.

Table of Contents:
  Option 1: Copy the missing files from a working virtual machine.
  Option 2: Create a new virtual machine and extract the missing installation package from VMware tools installer. Use this option if there are no virtual machines in the environment with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable installation package in the directory C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\.

Workaround:

Option 1: Copy the missing files from a working virtual machine:

  1. Find a virtual machine with the same version of Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable installed as the problematic virtual machine.

  2. The GUID found in the error message is Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable version specific. Find missing installation package as reported in the error message in the following location:
          C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\

Example: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{0C3457A0-3DCE-4A33-BEF0-9B528C557771}v14.40.33810

  3. Copy the installation package folder ({<version_guid>}v1#.##.#####) from the working virtual machine to the problematic virtual machine in to the same directory (C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\).

  4. Attempt to upgrade the VMware tools.

Option 2: Create a new virtual machine and extract the missing installation package from VMware tools installer:

  1. Identify the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime version from the error message. 

Example: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{0C3457A0-3DCE-4A33-BEF0-9B528C557771}v14.40.33810

The installed Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime version from the above example is 14.40.33810.

  2. VMware tools ships with the required Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable in its installer.
         Refer the KB Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Requirement for VMware Tools to identify the VMware tools version for the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable based on the error message.. 

Example:

VMware Tools Version	Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (32-bit)	Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (64-bit)
12.5.0	Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x86) - 14.40.33810 or later	Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) - 14.40.33810 or later

By referring to the KB Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Requirement for VMware Tools, the "Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable(x86)-14.40.33810" is packaged with VMware tools version 12.5.0 installer.

 

  3. Build a new virtual machine with Windows OS.

  4. Download "VMware Tools packages for Windows" installer for the identified VMware tools version from the Broadcom Support Portal.

  5. Copy the VMware tools installer to the new virtual machine. Run the VMware tools installer. When the "Next" button appears to proceed with the installation, minimize the installer as the required installation packages will have been extracted into "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache".
 
  6. On the new windows virtual machine, browse to the directory "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache" and find the required installation package (folder) reported in the error message.
         Example: {0C3457A0-3DCE-4A33-BEF0-9B528C557771}v14.40.33810
 
  7. Copy the required installation package (folder) in to the affected virtual machine directory "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache".
 
  8. Attempt to upgrade the VMware tools.